New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-04
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PARTIEs

Flippant and frivolous people, who want an
excuse for Sinking their own public duties, are
fond of saying that there is no difference
between parties. Both are managed for the
benefit of hungry office seekers, both stoop to
insincere pretences. and both resort to fraud,
these Sinking citizens affirm. They SANDER
worthier men than themselves. The great
body of voters who constitute both political
parties are in the main honest and patriotic in
purpose. Dishonest persons are found in all
political organizations, and in each party their
opportunities and influence are greater than
they should be, but that does not alter the fact
that most of the active and earnest voters who
make up the two great political parties SIN
cerely desire to promote good government and
the public welfare, and make willing sacrifices
of their time and efforts to that end, and are
therefore, UNNECESSARILY above the selfish
shirkers who refuse to take any trouble for the
common good.
1t does not follow that both parties are
equally worthy. If party has for any cause
come to accept dishonest or inslncere men as
its leaders, their influence secures the tacit as
sent of well-meaning voters to bad measures
and bad methods. The very sincerity of these
voters, their earnest desire to promote the pub
lie welfare by upholding the principles of their
party, renders them reluctant TO believe evil of
heir leaders, and willing to uphold them, with
all their faults, in preference to the leaders of
the opposite party, of whom the worst is be-
lieved. How many Democratic voters are there
who really understand and believe the truth
about Mr.. Garland's use of public Office to
help private speculation How many will
rafa az fha fruf in ri m tho oh nf i'm
proper conduct against Auditor McConvileH
How many will come to understand that Con-
troller Durham has deliberately viol ated law
by compromising claims against the United
States 7
1t Is the fault of the Democratic party that
being able to sustain Itself only by wrong
full and fraudulent conduct in Southern States
and IN some Northern cities, it came to recog-
nize as its leaders men who were willing to
resort to such measures, or to defend or ex-
cuse them. The consequence is that there does
exist a wide difference between the two great
parties, in respect to the standard of integrity
maintained by their leaders and active men,
and that difference crops out, of necessity, in
personal and official misconduct by many men
selected for places of trust.
Besides this, there is difference between the
two parties in capacity and competence. The
causes might easily be shown; they spring
from broad and permanent differences in the
constituent elements of the two parties. But
the fact is illustrated at every session of Con-
gress, when either House Is controlled by a
Democratic majority. Unwlse measures, which
would do great harm if adopted are pressed
with intense zeal at every session by such
majority. Measures Of praseworthy intent, by
the incapacity of the majority are so shaped
that they can only work harm. 1t matters not
whether the Interstate Commerce act be re-
garded as wise and praiseworthy in its general
purpose or not; all intelligent men now see
that it was rendered exceedingly harmful in
practical operation by the ignorance and blum
dering incapacity of the majority in the House.
It's most hurtful features are those upon which
the House insisted with the utmost stubborn
ness. There is difference between parties, as
to integrity and as to competence for the re-
spOnsibilities of government. The striking
citizen, who pretends that both are alike bad,
not only ISLANDERS millions of worthIer Ameri-
cans than himself, but shows that he is pitifully
ignorant of current history.